I am looking at developing a web site devoted to the psychology of boxing. It would have articles and tips about how to improve performance, interviews (written and audio) with boxers & trainers etc It's just to offer more insight into the psychological demands of the sport, peoples experiences, and how to use psychology to improve performance. What are anybody's thoughts? Thanks
Thanks, I have found the mindset of boxers to be completely different from other sports. When I speak with boxers the amount of times they indirectly refer to things which are psychological is huge, and there isn't much out there looking at it.
Thanks for the reply and a great idea. People like Cus would be an ideal person to use. I have read Tysons and the Terry Atlas book both refer to him having a really good understanding of the boxers psyche
Good idea. Gotta admit when I interview fighters I've got a tendency to ask them questions about the mental side of things. Was actually thinking of doing a series of articles around the idea. Boxing's half mental, half physical. You can be as fit as a fiddle, strong as an ox but if you're mentally weak you'll be found wanting.
It's the same as any other sport, they all involve a mental struggle. Maybe you should do a piece on boxing fans, on why they believe their sport is so unique. Psychology, strength and conditioning, nutrition etc. Boxing fans tend to believe their sport is so unique. That's what I find interesting.
TheUpperCut, thanks for the reply would be interested in having a chat but I can't PM you cause I don't have 50 messages. Anyother way I could get in touch
Great idea, but lefty is totally correct. Sports Psychology is very deep- full of theory and counter theory. It is also a massive part of a trainers arsenal. Not many trainers know physiology, not many trainers even know the absolute correct fundamentals but they enough to get by and are very skilled at motivating or guiding their fighters to think in a certain way. I read what some trainers have to say about physiology and its abslolute nonsense but they still enjoy huge amounts of success. Thats not luck thats being tremendous in other area's - imeasurable area's.
To be honest I dont see how boxing is different to other sports, individual sports that is. If its just down to you to win the mental part is greater, Athletes, Cyclists, etc Sports Pyschology is a big part of these sports I dont think you are doing anything new but good luck with it.
Psychology is a good subject for a website definately. It's one of the most interesting aspects of boxing (to read about, anyway), so I think it's a good idea. It's an area though where I think you'd get a lot more mileage from talking to retired boxers than active ones, as they're likely to be more honest! I think active fighters (probably rightly) would want to stay pretty guarded in terms of in-depth psychoanalysis on themselves (hell, that guardedness is probably worth an article in itself)
Thanks for all the comments. I have worked as a psychologist with a lot of boxers, and found their psyche to be very different from other types of athletes. I will keep everyone posted with where I get with this. If anyone has any ideas for boxers/coaches they think would be particularly interesting to interview, or they know anyone who would be interested then just let me know. Thanks
